Pages

Thursday, June 16, 2011

The "Coming Up Roses" Dress

I made a dress--just for fun! This is the one I started in the midst of my recovery from filming. It felt very spontaneous and creative. The pattern is my own, a simple bodice that I added a bias fold trim to.

The skirt is a basic circle. I did true tea length! What do you think?

I bought a petticoat to go underneath it. It's a little long, but I like the way it peeks out.

The back is shirred with elastic thread for comfort. I'm writing a tutorial on how to adapt any dress pattern to use this technique! Check back for that.

New green shoes.

I also made a self-covered belt, but it totally blends in.

The fabric is this really great printed cotton pique. The texture is really tiny and subtle. They still have it at Paron's if you're interested.

The dress and crinoline are on my dress form in the living room and I love how it looks. I want to make it a permanent decoration!

Wow, this is just gorgeous! The design reminds me a bit of a gown I made for an ROTC Air Force ball in college from a "Vintage Vogue" collection pattern. It is one of my favorite dresses ever! I absolutely love that patterned fabric. You look beautiful in this dress!

It's a beautiful dress and you look lovely in it. Did I miss a post where you decided not to carry on showing us your daily outfits? The idea inspired me to put a bit more effort into my own freelance daily outfits.

Thanks, all! Kate, a few commenters didn't seem too keen on the outfit posts the last time I did one, so I kind of cooled off on the idea. But I still want to do the occasional one. I haven't been very good about getting dressed to work at home lately. :(

I would LOVE that tutorial! I just made a muslin of Butterick 5351, but the top is just way to tight to be able to breathe! I had the idea to do that shirring, but I don't know how. I know it uses elastic thread....

I love that dress! You look fantastic and the green shoes are so cute with it. The full petticoat and tea-length are just perfect. I also am very intrigued with the idea of an elasticized back. I've been thinking about doing that with a maxi dress pattern so I can eliminate the need for a back zipper. A tutorial would be most helpful.

I think your dress is gorgeous and I'm looking forward to your tutorial about shirring. But I'll hesitantly voice a minority opinion on the petticoat. I love the way it makes the dress look, but I'm not fond of the way it hangs below the hem. Perhaps it's because I was alive way back when "retro" was current and up to date (albeit a child). It just looks a bit sloppy to me. Of course, in those days it would have been considered very embarrassing to have your slip showing. --C.B.But once again, I do think that both you and your dress are gorgeous.

Awesome sauce. All of it. Let us establish a Green Shoes with Red Dress Day!I fell in love with tea length several years ago, strongly encouraged by the combination of varicose veins and cellulite that was slowly swallowing up my legs. Now I lengthen almost all of my dress and skirt patterns to that length,resulting in both great successes and dismal failures.

Gertie: GREAT dress!! Can't wait for a shirring tutorial. I an't seem to get it right, but love my clothes that have it as a part of the item. (ie, I have a great short skirt that is shirred across the back: very forgiving, although it's a bit big now! Hense, I'd like to make a version that's a bit smaller!)

OMG... the dress turned out beautifully, and the shoes are to DIE for <3 I have to say, tea length works well for this dress... I always shy away from tea length b/c I worry it'll cut my legs off at that awkward spot where ankle ends and The Calf begins (mine happen to be, shall we say, muscular), but secretly I've alwyas wanted to try it out. Hmmm =) Can't wait to see your shirring tutorial!

The dress is beautiful. My dress form stands in my bedroom always wearing a "beautiful" garment that I've made. My sister said, "Oh no, that would have to go to another room. I would scare me every time I entered the room." My reply, "I like it hear. And besides, I'm used to it."

Cute, cute, CUTE! Love the dress shape, love the fabric, and love those shoes! I'm really looking forward to your tips on how to do the elastic back. I just started sewing my first dress from a vintage pattern and your blog is so inspirational and an awesome reference! :-)

I ADORE that dress. When you tire of it, let me know. I'll give you my mailing address. :-) But, I also must confess that my all-time favorite dress was a plaid Betsey Johnson with an elesticated back and I would LOVE to know how to do that.

OH, I love that dress.. Very beautiful! Especially like the bias trim on the bodice...

May I ask for some advice?? I've been planning to make a bathingsuit in a 40s fashion, but I can't fint any good patterns or advice on what to think about, for examples how to make the seams in the legs and armhole to fit wirhout turning loose when wet...I think elastic is the way to go but..well, im not sure... :)

Have you ever made you own bathingsuit? Have any advice on what to think about??

Have a great day!/ Olivia from Sweden Ps. Really love that Blueprints of F. book that I won in your giveaway last year, look in it almost every day....

I'm never less than totally floored by the dresses you make, esp as this one features roses, one of my favorite prints. I actually prefer when pettitcoats are bit long and peek out from under skirts/dresses. great, fun shoes too